On Oct. 9, the state updated guidance to allow private gatherings of three or fewer households, as long as the private gathering is outdoors, everyone wears a cloth face covering and keeps at least six feet of physical distance, food is in single-serve disposable containers, and the duration of the gathering is two hours or less.

Public Health will update the Health Officer Order to align with this change in the state guidance. The new order will be posted on www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

Private gatherings with people from different households increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission, with the risk increasing the longer the gathering. Public Health recommends those who do gather with two other households do so with the same households each time to create a quasi-bubble that can reduce the risk of spreading the virus. It is very important that people do not attend any private gathering if they are experiencing symptoms of illness, have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed or likely have been exposed to someone positive.

A household does not include group living situations such as dormitories, fraternities, sororities, residential care facilities, or commercial group living arrangements such as boarding houses, hotels or motels.

Large public events and gatherings remain prohibited, even if held outdoors.

On Wednesday, Public Health has confirmed 22 new deaths and 1,349 new cases of COVID-19. To date, Public Health identified 285,016 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County and a total of 6,812 deaths. Upon further investigation, 83 cases reported earlier were not LA County residents.